Recent advances in sensing neutral molecules using low molecular weight gelators (LMWGs)

ABSTRACT

In recent two decades molecular gels have become an intriguing subject of research due to their potential applications in diverse fields including drug delivery, tissue engineering and visual detection. As smart materials, gel-based sensors offer convenient and simple techniques for rapid, in situ and instrument-free detection of various analytes. This article aims to review recent developments over the last ten years on LMWG-based probes for the discrimination of various molecular species mainly including biomolecules, organic acids and amines, hazards, toxicants, explosives and nitro compounds, owing to their biological, safety, and environmental concerns.

Graphical abstract

KEYWORDS:

• Chemosensor
• visual detection
• amino acid
• explosives
• nerve agents

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).